Disabled Muslims Australia
Meditation for Muslims
What is meditation?
Meditation involves intentionally focusing on a subject, object or process; or in clearing the mind. It comes in many forms and types, each from different origins, and has been practiced by people to increase their faith or spirituality, improve mindfulness, relax, and many more purposes. One of those that has become most popular recently is guided meditation, in which a person visualises a relaxing or comforting scene, using as many senses as possible.
The benefits of meditation
The medical field has come to recognise the health benefits of meditation, particularly for illnesses that can be exacerbated by stress, so much so that meditation is being used to assist in treating people suffering from various ailments both in hospital and out. Some illnesses/conditions that have been shown to benefit from meditation include pain, autoimmune diseases, heart disease, anxiety disorders, asthma, cancer, depression, high blood pressure and sleep problems. I can personally test that through guided meditation I experience a reduction in pain and stress, and an improved awareness of myself and the world around me.
Meditation can also increase your faith, as you can see from the answer to the next question.
Is meditation permissible for Muslims?
Islam is one of the faiths in which meditation is richly incorporated. Dhikr is a type of meditation in that it involves focussing on Allah. The Quran also encourages us to ponder over its passages and meanings. It also encourages us to contemplate the signs of Allah, which can include such things as aspects of nature.
"Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], 'Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.'"(The Quran 3:191)
This also shows the spiritual benefits of such meditation, in that it increases one's faith, gratitude and respect for Allah.
It is reported that the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) also practiced a form of meditation involving clearing of the mind (Shabir 2013), and it is during one of these sessions that he first received revelation from Allah (Beatty 2008).
As for other types of meditation there is nothing in the Quran or Hadith that presents evidence against meditation, excepting when other deities are incorporated into it.
How do I try meditation?
All meditation involves some common characteristics. Namely, focussing attention to eliminate distractions, relaxed breathing with deep even breaths which assist the body and mind to relax, a quiet setting to remove distractions, and a comfortable position so that your body can relax.
Here are some of the most popular types of meditation, along with some suggestions on how to practice it:
Guided meditation: this involves visualising relaxing places or situations like walking on the beach or floating amongst the clouds, making use of as many senses as possible. There are many books that contain guided meditations that someone can read to you as you meditate. If you don't have someone who can talk you through the meditation there are many audio recordings available. This form of meditation is very popular with children, and there are books and recordings available that are specifically for children.
Mantra meditation: this involves repeating a thought or phrase in order to exclude distracting thoughts. An example could include repeating Alhumdulillah to yourself.
Physical relaxation: this is a form of meditation frequently recommended by doctors, psychologists and physiotherapists since it assists the practitioner to conciously relax their physical body, whilst also relaxing their mental state. It involves tensing muscles of part of your body, then releasing them. A practitioner usually works from their feet upwards, progressively tensing and releasing each part of the body one at a time from toes to head.
Tai Chi: this is a type of meditation combined with physical exercise. Slow, controlled and gentle movements and stretches are performed whilst relaxing the mind. It is a commonly recommended activity for those who are elderly as it is a very low impact way for them to maintain physical strength and flexibility.
References
Beatty, M 2008, Meditation, Islamic Insights, n.p. viewed 2 September 2014, <http://islamicinsights.com/religion/religion/meditation.html>.
Q&A: practicing neditation in Islam - dr. Shabir Ally, 2013, online video, 23 August, created by Let the Quran Speak, viewed 2 September 2014, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atMeDOVrWFs>.